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The increasingly popular WAI-CON convention is on again this year in Perth, Western Australia. It’s held at the Perth Convention Centre on Feb 2-3 (yes, this weekend!) and will feature cosplay, gaming, panels and more. Check out what the annual anime con is all about here.

Also, the Perth library, which has had comics for years, like most libraries around the world has now jsut started offering floppies (as in monthly comics). This is good news. Speaking with one of the staff, she said it’s just a trial basis now, and the monthly issues, which are mainly focused on superhero titles, can only be read in the library. However, if demand increases, they may just loan them out. She also said not too many people know about this service, so take advantage of it, and tell your friends!

Phew. It has been a busy few days with Superman news being unleashed almost daily, in anticipation of the upcoming film, and if you go to your local comic shop, you may just be bale to get a double-sided bookmark with recommendations of great Superman comics too.

Firstly, as anyone with a passing interest in cinematic history will know, there was a go in the late-90s of making a Superman film starring Nicolas Cage (true!) and directed by Tim Burton. It never happened, but you can watch the amusing storyteller Kevin Smith tell the wild tale here.

Two pics of Cage in the proposed Superman suit have been recently unearthed, coinciding with a Kickstarter doco about the failed film, called The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened? It would be a fascinating insight and a cringe inducing one, that I’m sure would just serve to remind us of what a travesty the film could’ve been. I hope the doco gets made.

Two scripts have also been unveiled on the net this week at the resourceful Superman Homepage. They’re PDFs of a draft of Superman Lives! and a later 2003 attempt called Flyby that was to be directed by JJ Abrams (the man now behind the first of the 2015 Star Wars films).

Now, instead of what could have been, two pics have been released about what will be, focusing on June’s Man of Steel film starring Brit actor Henry Cavil (Immortals). Here he is on the cover of this week’s Empire magazine, followed by one of many action figures sporting the film’s interpretation of the Kryptonian. Check out more toy pics, including Jor-El, and Zod here.

With all this, plus the excellent Injustice: Gods Among Us comic, and upcoming game, it’s finally a good time to be excited about The Man of Steel once more.

Ah, how far ‘toy’s have come in the last decade or so. Collectors can have a field day with small reproductions of their fave pop culture characters. Oh, how I wish I had the money and a nice display case to start a collection. Well, here’s two more recent figures, courtesy of those artisans at Hot Toys.

Iron Man 3 opens in May, and to get in the mood, you can check out this highly detailed 1/6th rendition of tony Stark and his armour parts from the film.

Also 1/6th scale is this upcoming Joker figure from Sideshow Collectibles which costs $190 and is modelled on the classic Joker rather than the new hideous version with the stapled on skin-face. Yuck.

Writer/artist Kyle Baker is a legend in the comic book biz, having brought his great cartoony style and sense of humour to titles such as Plastic Man, and The Shadow. However, his creator owned work is what he’s most known for, and now you can read most of it – for free! Baker has put several OGNs in their entirety on his site, possible to gain more deserved exposure. You can now check out Why I Hate Saturn, Special Forces, Nat Turner, and KIng David.

The only one I’ve read is King David, which is great, although thanks to the acclaim all his work has received, I’m aware of all of them. King David is described thusly:King David: David, a poor shepherd boy, becomes an unlikely superstar when he slays a villainous giant single handed. David’s sudden fame arouses the jealousy of evil King Saul, who mobilizes his entire army in an attempt to destroy the young hero. What follows is an epic adventure which inludes swordfights, chases on horseback, romance with multiple wives, suspense, corruption and betrayal.

My friend Joey Ruff has just published his first novel, and it’s now available on Amazon, with the Kindle version landing soon. The Dark Communion (Volume 1) is a massive 408 page supernatural thriller. I read an early draft and it was rather intriguing I must say. You can buy the book on Amazon right here (it’s only $15) and it will be available to order through libraries and Barnes and Noble stores soon.

Superior Spider-Man #1 is probably the most talked about issue in a long time. The last few issues of The Amazing Spider-Man seemed to attract much hatred, even death threats against writer Dan Slott, but the story he was creating is nothing extremely unusual for the world of superhero comics. In short, Doctor octopus was dying. He knew it, and wanted to live, so he swapped minds with Peter Parker. So, Peter is trapped inside the weakening body of one of his greatest enemies in his final moments, while Doc Ock’s mind is now in Spider-Man’s body. It’s a grand idea, but also sounds kind of silly. However, Slott made it work. Last week’s AMS #700 is the last issue, and is an anthology. The only story worth reading in that hefty issue is the one by Slott and artist Humberto Ramos, which establishes the new mind swap status quo that features in the new Superior Spider-Man title. It’s actually quite touching in parts, and having Ock relive Parker’s memories which turn him into a hero for the first time in his life is a great place to kick things off. This conflict is handled well in Superior. Ock now has a new Spidey costume, and is relishing being Peter Parker, especially ogling Mary Jane, and is frustrated at the new Sinister Six team of villains who are easily beaten by him. Peter Parker is dead, and no-one knows that, or that Ock is now really Peter, so amidst all the superhero stories there’s some good drama, and Ock’s monologues are entertaining.

I was thinking as I was reading it though, that Marvel can’t keep this up forever. For all the hype and press that this new direction has received, do people really want to read about a replacement Spider-Man, even if it’s a somewhat renewed villain who uses his vast scientific knowledge to fight the bad guys? And would they ever have “Peter” and MJ make love? That’s got to open a can of ethical worms for sure. However, the last page of Superior reveals that Parker is alive, of sorts, kind of like a fragment of Ock’s mind, trying to regain control. Eventually, he will. He has to, but it’ll be a fun ride until then.

Morbius #1 by Joe Keatinge and Richard Elson isn’t groundbreaking stuff, but is entertaining. I’ve always been a fan of C-List characters, and Morbius, The Living Vampire is certainly that. He’s been around since the ’70s but has never achieved superstar status. This is a good introduction to the character though, and Keatinge does well to establish the ‘rules’ for this particular pale, red-eyed vamp. Things kick off in the present with Morbius being blasted by a shotgun, and than flashback with Morbius explaining, “how I got here.” It’s more street-level than superhero which is a nice change of pace. Sure, Morbius now has a hoodie and streamlined goatee, and the gang leader has a blue mohawk and face piercings, but it doesn’t scream that it’s trying to be cool. Elson’s art is soft and likeable, and even the lettering and page designs are attractive. Nothing revolutionary, but a rare, accessible tale.

Star Wars #1. The time is right for this, with the new SW films being worked on nostalgia for the original trilogy is high, and writer Brian Wood’s star continues to rise, thanks to his work on The Massive, and a few Marvel series. Dark Horse have released so many SW series over the last 20 years, so it’s good to finally see a title focused on most people’s fave era. Wood and artist Carlos D’anda have given fans what they wanted – a thrilling new adventure with the classic characters. Set two months after the first film (Episode IV), the Rebel Alliance are looking for a new planet to call homebase. Luke and Leaia are flying through space in their X-Wings and talking about learning the ways of the Force, and trying to move on with the loss of so many of their friends when they’re ambushed.

Luke, Leia and Luke’s pal Wedge are forced to battle out of a tight spot, Han and Chewie have a talk about Han’s new heroic side, and the Emperor gives Vader a new mission, as does Mon Mothma to Leia. This is a fast paced ride filled with deft pacing and astounding, detailed visuals from D’anda. Vader has never looked so menacing. All the tech and ships look grand and the cast look similar to their movie counterparts. It’s a great time to revel in the Star Wars universe again.

This debut ish sold out within 24 hours, but the reprint is arriving on February 6.